With two new City Council members elected Tuesday, Mayor Jerry Ludwig celebrated his own victory by looking to the future.

Ludwig, who was appointed mayor in January, kept the job by defeating City Councilman Carl L. Breeding, 1,919 to 1,028 votes.

Carl L. Breeding

The outcome of Tuesday's council election also was a victory of sorts for Ludwig. Council members Sarah Mead and William Mure, whom Ludwig recently asked to resign, lost their re-election bids.

Ludwig said he is looking forward to working with new council members Robert Howe and Kenneth Gaiser, and only time will tell what differences they can make.

"It's early," he said while celebrating his victory at Bella Notte Ristorante downtown. "A normal learning process will take place on both sides of the fence. ... They will do well, and they complement each other. They will blend in well with the rest of the council."

After learning of his victory, Ludwig joined friends and supporters in a toast to Jackson's future.

Breeding, who will remain on the council, said he was happy to be part of a "positive and cordial campaign."

"We didn't lose, we just didn't win," he said of the election results. "I am looking to move on and stay involved in city government."

Breeding said he left Ludwig a message congratulating him and thanking him for a positive campaign.

"We all like to win, but either way it would have been a win-win for the city," Breeding said.

"It was not a campaign against (Ludwig). We were both seeking the position of mayor."

With two more years left in his council term, Breeding said he is unsure if he will seek re-election, or run for mayor again. He added that he might run for a seat on the County Board of Commissioners.

"Who would have thought it has been 10 years?" he said about his time on the council. "I don't know where the time goes, but you don't get tired of helping people.
It just makes you feel good. If you enjoy giving service to the city, you have to keep doing it."

Charles Walker, 54, said he voted for Ludwig, who had been his 6th Ward council representative since 1997, before Ludwig became mayor in January when former Mayor Martin Griffin was elected to the state House of Representatives.

"We know what to expect with him," said Walker, finance director at the Jackson County Road Commission.

Manuel Guinn, 93, said he voted for Breeding because Breeding is deeply rooted in the community and spent years working as a math teacher in Jackson schools.

"He's been running this city for years and years," Guinn said. "I think he would make a good city mayor. He runs the city well."

Councilman Andrew Frounfelker stopped by Belle Notte to congratulate Ludwig. He said Ludwig has done a good job during his brief time as mayor and will continue to do so.

"It is nice we can start moving on with work in the city with the election over and the turmoil going on during the last six months," Frounfelker said.